Through late nights, travel, harmattan air, and festive chaos, these skin essentials kept my complexion balanced, hydrated, and effortlessly radiant.
Born in a city obsessed with grind culture, one learns early the mantra: Work hard, play hard. Most commercial cities seem to operate by this same directive. New Yorkers never sleep, while Seoulites only do so in a fortnight, and everything runs 24 hours a day in Cairo. Behind these fast-paced and energetic cities are the citizens who uphold the activities. My city is no different, and lately, it has been gaining international buzz for its month-long celebration, known as Detty December. Welcome to the city of Lagos.
As a Lagosian, my December calendar always had a few weddings. It’s also the only month I get to see scores of my favourite artists in a single concert lineup. I also often spend a few days in my village during December or January. There’s a lot of greenery and beauty there, which is really just a fancy way of saying there are a lot of insects. Similarly, I have a soft spot for travelling whenever there’s a long holiday, and in the past, it showed on my skin. I often spend my January recuperating and healing my skin.
Between the partying and relaxing, my skin has seen its worst days. Not to mention the Harmattan in West Africa is at its peak. However, if you travel to Northern Africa, this might be the only time of the year you can say, “Nigeria is hotter than Egypt.” The coldness is due to the winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But last Christmas, I tried something new, and weeks into January, there’s not a single piece of evidence on my skin that I went to over a dozen events — three in one day, a few weddings, and a trip to the South Eastern states of Abia and Imo, and took a detour to Akwa Ibom before returning to Lagos.
Read also: Beating the post-holiday blues: how corporate chic makes returning to work feel exciting again
I got acquainted with a few of these products during my trip to Kilimanjaro earlier last year. If my skin didn’t crack in Tanzania, it certainly wouldn’t in Abia. Here’s how I maintained flawless skin during the holiday season — and the products I still use to this day.
Skin protection made effortless in any climate
There’s Harmattan in Lagos, and then there’s the Harmattan in other parts of the country — each harsher than the last as you move further from the coast. The lotions I use in Lagos never seem to be enough for this level of dryness. Luckily, these products keep my skin’s moisture and texture intact.
ROA Cell Pure 2500 Collagen Jelly Mist: For skin hydration
This Collagen Jelly Mist, courtesy of My Lab Africa, has become a staple in my morning routine. After a bath, I spritz a few sprays in a circular motion, leaving my skin feeling wonderfully refreshed. With collagen to firm and strengthen, it’s perfect for all skin tones, including Black skin. Its collagen also forms a protective barrier that produces moisture and reduces evaporation. The formula utilises hyper-pressured fish collagen to form an instant lifting layer. It pulls the skin taut and raises the surface of the pores, delivering a smoother and more polished feel. Ideal for skin hydration, while combating fine lines and wrinkles.
Anua Zero-Cast Moisturising Finish Sunscreen: For radiant skin and sun protection
The myth has been debunked countless times, but it’s worth repeating: yes, even melanated skin needs sunscreen. However, no one shares the struggle of using sunscreen and applying makeup. A lot of sunscreens make the face look greasy, but not Anua. Despite having an SPF 50 that defends the skin from UVA and UVB damage, it also creates a smooth base, making it easy for makeup to stay fresh. It feels as soft on the face as it does on the fingers. Easily blends into my skin without any thickness. Let’s not forget, it provides up to 72 hours of moisture with ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. So even if the airline misplaces your bags, your skin is still safe when they are found.
R&R Skincare Body Butter Balm: The moisture your body needs
Dry skin goes beyond face care; it appears on elbows, lips, cuticles, and sometimes even cheeks. The R&R Skincare Body Butter Balm became my rescue product. Made with 100% natural, plant-based ingredients and rich Ghanaian shea butter, it melts instantly on contact, restoring softness without heaviness.
What I love most is its versatility — I use it on my face, body, and lips, often straight from my handbag. Plus, as a balm, it’s perfectly travel-friendly. The delicate scent of lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang adds a subtle moment of calm, making moisturising feel less like maintenance and more like a ritual.
Amoke Skincare Vitamin C Complex: A glow that builds
Amoke’s Vitamin C Complex delivers brightening without irritation, thanks to a potent yet stable 13% Vitamin C blend paired with Ferulic Acid, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin E. I use Amoke in my day and night routine. It makes my skin feel hydrated, and I enjoy its subtle hint of Vitamin C. From the first few uses, my skin appeared clearer, calmer, and more even-toned.
With its soothing and effective nature, it became my go-to throughout the season. This is the kind of glow product that sneaks up on you and quickly becomes a daily essential.
For the late nights and festivals
From the pop-ups to Palmwine Fest, I was experiencing the best of Lagos’ entertainment. With an itinerary that involved running around the Island from art galleries to beaches, my makeup didn’t break a sweat. Here are the products that kept my makeup look flawless and intact throughout all the fun.
Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder: A base that never breaks
The skin needs flexibility. Some days call for oil control; others demand hydration, and the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder understands that nuance. The balm-to-powder texture absorbs into the skin, smoothing pores and softening texture without flattening my complexion or masking it entirely.
Powered by Upsalite, this formula balances sebum throughout the day, adjusting as your skin changes. I love how it sets like a powder but never feels dry, delivering a clean, soft-focus finish that lasts through dinners, dancing, and everything in between. It’s the kind of base that makes people ask what you’re wearing, without realising it’s doing most of the work invisibly.
Cape & Coco Lip Lacquer Butter – A lipgloss for any climate
Hydration goes beyond the skin. You need a lip product that could moisturise deeply while still looking polished, and the Cape & Coco Lip Lacquer Butter delivered exactly that. It nourishes like a balm, but shines like a gloss, without any stickiness or mess — and if you pick it up at Beauty Hut store, you even get phone charms.
With a vanilla-infused formula that keeps my lips soft, plump, and comfortable for hours, making it perfect for constant talking, eating, and festive sipping. It quickly became my most reapplied product, and not once did it feel excessive.
A routine that meets you where you are
What makes this routine work is intention. Each product served a clear purpose: balancing, soothing, hydrating, and enhancing the skin — never overpowering it. Together, they create a rhythm that carries me through the chaos of the seasons, looking fresh, calm, and glowing.
Flawless skin, I’ve learned, comes from choosing wisely, listening closely, and trusting your products to do exactly what they’re designed to do — consistently, effortlessly, and beautifully.
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